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It is your confirmation "number." The letters have no implication to where
your group with be in the lineup.
Q7. Our group has to be over at the ___ parade by ____ PM.
When are we going to finish? Will we make it in time? We have to be at
the front of the parade...
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First of all, take a deep breath and relax. The parade is supposed to be
fun, so don't get too stressed out that morning. Every group that
(a) told us that they were going to another parade, and (b) registered
by the deadline, was placed near the beginning of "open" part of the lineup.
This means that these groups are in the first half of the lineup. Historically,
that has given those groups plenty of time to go elsewhere.
Q8. How do the Jaycees determine the lineup?
For fun, let's phrase this as a multiple choice question:
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a) Order of received entry forms
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b) Reverse order of received entry forms
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c) People we like go first
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d) People we don't like go last
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e) Alphabetical order by first name
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f) Magic eight ball
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g) See which entry flies the furthest as a paper airplane
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h) Online registration entries go first.
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i) All of the above
As the webmaster of the Wheaton Jaycees web site, I vote for
(h). With over 50 on-line entries this year, they cannot all go first.
The real answer is...... (j) None of the above
Here's what we really do: First of all some entries are always
in the same place in the lineup. For example, the police, color guard,
and fire trucks are first. The VFW, Grand Marshall, American Legion, and
Municipal Band are next. This year we are doing something a little
different. Instead of one large group of political entries, we are interspersing
small groups of regular entries between small groups of political. This
gives the audience more variety. VIPs are ordered by the office that
they currently hold. City offices first, then federal,
then state, then county and then normal candidates.
Why do these groups get to go first? Well, some groups, like the fire
trucks, are at the beginning any parade. Other groups, like the VFW, served
our country, so they should be honored in a Independence Day parade.
The street sweeper is always last. In between the VIPs and the street
sweeper is the "open" part of the lineup. This year, over 100 entries fall
in to the open category. Not all 100+ entries can be at the front of the
open lineup.
Any group that has to hurry to another parade is put near the front
of the open lineup. However, there are two limiting factors. First, a lot
of entries are going to other parades. Once again, they cannot all be first.
Second, we try to split up similar types of entries. The parade spectators
prefer not to see, for example, a bunch of floats followed by nothing but
walkers for the next half hour. So, we try to vary consecutive entries.
After the multiple parade entries, we really are very random.
For the political party floats, we alternate every year.
Late entries are put at or near the end of the parade because the lineup
is already done. Also, while we don't give priority between March 1 and
June 15th entries, it would not be fair to put a late entry before a group
that registered on time.
As you can see, a lot of work goes into this. We do our best to be both
fair and accommodating.
Questions from Political Entries
Q9. How many people come to see the parade?
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I've heard estimates of 70,000 to 80,000. That makes it one of the largest
in Illinois. Wheaton only has 60,000 people, so spectators come from all
around.
Q10. I am coming from another parade that finishes after 9
AM. What if I am late?
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Main
St. and Geneva will be shut down at 8:30 AM. All side roads will be
shut down by 9 AM. So it sounds like you will be late. We will be busy
inside of the barricaded roads, so there is not much we can do. Don't be
surprised when a police officer prevents your car from entering the staging
area
Here are some tips for that morning:
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Have someone from your group show up at Fifth Third Bank on time.
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There is NO PARKING at Fifth Third year. With all of
the pedestrians walking around, it is not safe when people driven into
that area late.
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Know the cell phone number of one of your supporters at Fifth Third, so
you can tell them when you are late.
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Get familiar with the roads round the staging area in Wheaton so you can
find a place to park. The main access point, Geneva, will be closed. West
Cole might be a better approach.
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Wear comfortable shoes to walk from your parked car to Fifth Third. You
should not try to drive in because the staging area will be filled with
pedestrians, including children.
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If the parade has started, check in with the Jaycee official in the VIP
area at Fifth Third. Jaycee officials will be wearing Navy blue Fourth
of July shirts.
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Please be courteous to the Jaycee parade official in the VIP area. Remember
it is not his fault that you are late.
Q11. According to the rules, only 10 walkers are allowed in my group.
How can I have more supporters in the parade?
Build a float. Your float and have more people on it (as long as the
number of people on the float is safe. Also, additional people are allowed
to walk with your political party's float.